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ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022: Wrap Up

Cricket, Sports / By / / Cricket, Events, Final, ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, Sports

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 has come to a close in the exact way most people predicted – with Australia lifting the trophy. Australia went through the tournament unbeaten and were sublime in claiming their seventh title. They righted the wrong of the 2017 World Cup, beating England in an exciting final. After a rocky start to the tournament, England can be proud of making the final despite the disappointment of losing out in the end. Even though spin-bowling dominated the tournament, as predicted in our Meet the Teams article, it was two batting performances that caught the eye in the final.

 

The Final

Australia celebrate winning the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Final. Photo: ICC/Getty

Around 5000 people packed into Hagley Oval to watch the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022. After England won the toss and chose to field, the fans were treated to an absolute masterclass. Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes put on 160 runs for the first wicket, before Beth Mooney joined Healy for a 156-run partnership. They eventually finished on 356 in their 50 overs, with cameos from Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry. The real star of the show was Alyssa Healy. Her 170 runs off just 138 balls is the highest score in an ODI World Cup Final, men’s or women’s. Alyssa Healy became the top scorer at the tournament and the first woman to score 500 runs in a single tournament.

Healy’s proactive innings propelled Australia to their mammoth total and she deservedly won Player of the Match. England fought valiantly in the second innings, but in the end Australia’s score was just too much for them. England’s total of 285 would likely have seen them lift the trophy in any other World Cup, but they still lost this final by 71 runs. The margin of the loss doesn’t reflect the nature of the game, and Nat Sciver’s score of 148* could have been match-winning. However, England couldn’t find a partner to support her. England certainly challenged Australia, and one significant partnership would have made the finish a lot closer.

 

Tournament Awards

There were a number of incredible performances and games in this World Cup. But who was the best player? Who was the breakout star? What was the best match? And what was the best moment? These are my picks for each of these questions.

Player of the Tournament

Rachael Haynes of Australia bats in their opening match against England. Photo: ICC/Getty

Alyssa Healy was the offical Player of the Tournament. However, Healy was modest when accepting the award and suggested there were others who were more consistent throughout the tournament. One of these players was Healy’s own teammate, Rachael Haynes. Haynes was the tournament’s second highest scorer with 497 runs at an average of 62.12. Haynes opened her tournament with a century against England and then followed this up with three fifties, including one in the final. She was an anchor at the top of the order and allowed other players such as Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, and Beth Mooney to flourish.

Honourable mentions have to go to Sophie Ecclestone, Nat Sciver, and Laura Wolvaardt. Sophie Ecclestone was the leading wicket-taker with 21 wickets, the most in a single tournament since 1982. Sciver was the third highest run scorer, only one of two players to score two centuries in this tournament, and was a useful bowler for her side. Finally, Laura Wolvaardt earned her place on this list by scoring five fifties.

 

Breakout Star

Charlie Dean of England bowls against India. Photo: ICC/Getty

Charlie Dean had a great tournament for England. The 21 year-old off-break bowler had only played 7 ODIs before the start of this World Cup. She was left out of England’s first two matches, before getting a chance against South Africa. Then in the crucial match against India, Dean took 4/23 to help England to a much needed victory. She also took two important wickets in the crunch match against New Zealand, as well as handling the pressure alongside Anya Shrubsole as England just held on. She took 11 wickets despite playing in just 6 of England’s matches. Dean showed off her batting skills in the final, scoring 21 runs in a 65-run partnership that gave England one last hope.

 

Best Match

Due to the amount of close matches in this tournament, a number of games could have been considered as the best. However, the final match of the round-robin stands out amongst the rest. With everything riding on this game for India, alongside South Africa they produced a match filled with drama of the highest order. India needed to win to make the semi-finals and they gave it their all. A total of 275 runs in their 50 overs gave India a great chance before the final over changed everything. If India could keep South Africa to fewer than six runs in the final over they would win and qualify for the semis. They started wonderfully, forcing a run-out on the second ball. They then thought they had all but won it when they took another wicket off the fifth ball. South Africa now needed three off the final ball. However, a front-foot no-ball cancelled the wicket and gifted South Africa a run. Needing just two runs off the final two balls, South Africa closed it out and India were eliminated. Watch the drama unfold in this great video from the ICC.

 

Best Moment or Storyline

Amongst all of the top-quality moments on the pitch, one off-field storyline captured the hearts of the world. Baby Fatima, the daughter of Pakistan captain Bismah Mahroof, became an instant star. Players from other countries were lining up to take photos with Fatima, who was born just last year.

Mahroof was the first Pakistan player to make use of their newly instated maternity leave, playing in the World Cup just six-months after giving birth. Several mums featured in this tournament, highlighting the progress being made in the women’s game.

 

Final Words

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 is being hailed by many as the greatest yet. Despite the complications of organising a World Cup during a global pandemic, tournament was a true spectacle. As the competition approached the business end, crowd capacities were increased and the Kiwi fans turned up in droves. Being at the final was an incredible experience and it was an honour to witness two of the greatest ever innings in World Cup history. The organisers, players, officials, and volunteers can be extremely proud of putting on a great show not just in this final, but throughout the whole tournament.

This brings our coverage of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 to a close, but there’s a lot more cricketing action to come this year. Cricket features at the Commonwealth Games beginning at the end of July. Then there’s the second season of The Hundred opening on August 3. Make sure to keep an eye out for our coverage of these events. Thanks for the support throughout this tournament!

Written by Damon Lillis

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